Situations, not word lists
Every unit is a real errand — the pharmacy, the lease, the parents' evening at school. You practise the exact sentences you'll reuse that week.
Estonian for people who actually live here
Learn Estonian
without the mystery.
Tarkus pairs live small-group classes with a self-paced CEFR path from A1 to C1 — designed for exchange students, e-Residency founders, and families relocating to Estonia.
- No credit card to begin
- Live teachers based in Estonia
- Cancel anytime
Used by newcomers working and studying at
- University of Tartu
- TalTech
- e-Residency founders
- Wise
- Bolt
The method
Speak from week one, grammar when it helps
Estonian has 14 cases and a reputation to match. Our job is to make it usable long before it's "finished."
Small live groups
Six learners maximum per live class, grouped by level and goal. Enough speaking time for everyone, enough people to feel like a room.
Spaced review that fits a commute
Short daily review sets on web and mobile keep cases and vocabulary from fading between classes. Ten minutes counts.
Courses
A clear path from "tere" to fluent
Aligned to the CEFR framework used for Estonian residence and citizenship requirements.
A1 — Survival
Introduce yourself, shop, order, ask directions, handle numbers, time and dates.
A2 — Everyday
Talk about work, home and routine; deal with appointments, deliveries and small problems.
B1 — Independent
Hold conversations at work, explain opinions, follow the news and official letters. The level most residence tracks ask for.
B2 — Confident
Work primarily in Estonian, argue a point, handle meetings and nuance.
C1 — Professional
Study, present and negotiate in Estonian with precision and register control.
Not sure where you are?
Take the 10-minute placement test and get a recommended start point and study plan.
Take the placement testWho it's for
Built around why you're here
Exchange & degree students
Fit classes around your timetable, meet the language requirement for credits, and stop feeling lost in the supermarket.
e-Residency entrepreneurs
Read contracts and tax letters, talk to the bank and the notary, and build local trust with clients and partners.
Relocating families
Handle the kindergarten, the family doctor and the lease — and support kids who are suddenly learning in Estonian.
Remote workers & nomads
Go past "tere" and "aitäh." Understand your neighbourhood, your colleagues and the country you chose.
How it works
Three steps to your first class
-
1
Place yourself
Take the placement test or start clean at A1. We set your level and weekly goal.
-
2
Pick your rhythm
Choose one or two live classes a week and the times that fit. Reschedule up to 12 hours before.
-
3
Show up and speak
Join from any device. Between classes, short review sets keep everything fresh.
Pricing
Plans that match how fast you need this
Prices in euros, VAT included. Cancel or pause anytime.
Self-paced
€19/month
Learn on your own schedule.
- Full A1–C1 course library
- Daily review & progress tracking
- Mobile and web
- Monthly group speaking room
Most popular
Live Group
€89/month
Everything in Self-paced, plus:
- 2 live small-group classes / week
- Max 6 learners per class
- Teacher feedback on speaking & writing
- B1 exam-prep track when you're ready
1-on-1
€44/lesson
Private, on your goals.
- 60-minute private lessons
- Custom plan — work, exam or family
- Flexible scheduling across time zones
- Bundle discounts from 10 lessons
Teams and relocation packages for companies onboarding staff to Estonia — talk to us.
Teachers
Certified, local, and used to teaching newcomers
Every Tarkus teacher holds a recognised Estonian-as-a-foreign-language qualification and works from Estonia. They know which mistakes come from English, which from Russian, and which from Finnish — and how to fix each.
"I moved for an e-Residency company and needed B1 for my residence permit. Twelve weeks of the Live Group plan and I passed on the first try — and I can actually talk to my accountant now."
"Exchange semester in Tartu. I went from zero to ordering, shopping and small talk with my flatmates in about two months. The situations are the real thing."
FAQ
Questions newcomers ask us
Is Estonian really as hard as people say?
It's different, not impossible. The cases look intimidating written down, but you use a handful of them constantly and pick those up fast through speaking. Most learners hold basic conversations within two months.
Which level do I need for a residence permit or citizenship?
Most long-term residence and citizenship tracks require B1, and some professional registrations require B2. Our B1 course includes an exam-prep add-on covering the official test format. We can't give legal advice — check current requirements with the Police and Border Guard Board.
I don't speak any Russian or Finnish. Is that a problem?
Not at all. Courses are taught through Estonian and English, and our A1 materials assume no prior exposure to any related language.
What are the live class times?
Classes run mornings, evenings and weekends in Central European Time, which covers most of our learners across Europe and the Americas. You choose your slots and can reschedule up to 12 hours before.
Can my employer pay?
Yes. We invoice companies directly and offer relocation packages for teams onboarding staff to Estonia. Use the contact form below.
What's included in the free week?
Full access to the self-paced library and one live group class, no card required. If it's not for you, do nothing and it ends.
Start this week
Get a placement result and your first class time in under 15 minutes.